Public Holidays Ordinance amendment improves transparency and certainty

THE proposed amendments to Sarawak’s Public Holidays Ordinance are seen as a progressive step towards protecting workers’ welfare and promoting family harmony, particularly among rural and interior communities, says Baleh assemblyman Nicholas Kudi Jantai.

He said the amendments would modernise the existing ordinance, which dates back to 1958, while providing greater clarity and certainty over public holiday arrangements.

“Therefore, this amendment is a progressive step that safeguards workers’ welfare and promotes family harmony,” he said when speaking in support of the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Oct 13).

Under the proposed amendments, when a public holiday listed in the Schedule falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a public holiday. If Monday is also a public holiday, the following Tuesday will be observed instead, unless otherwise directed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri through a Gazette notification.

Nicholas said the clarification would reduce confusion, help employers plan their operations and give workers greater certainty over their entitlements.

“Public holidays are not merely dates on a calendar. Behind every holiday, there are workers looking forward to resting, children hoping to return to their longhouses and parents waiting to gather with their families,” he said.

He said the amendments are particularly meaningful to communities in Baleh and Kapit, where travelling to longhouses along the Mujong, Gaat and Baleh rivers could take several hours, depending on river and weather conditions.

For interior communities, he said, public holidays provided valuable opportunities to reunite with family members and observe traditional customs.

He cited the Gawai Dayak celebration as an example, noting that many Sarawakians working in Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu planned their journeys home months in advance.

Clear substitute holiday arrangements would allow them to plan their trips better and spend more time with their families instead of rushing back to work after a brief visit, he said.

Kudi also said longer holiday periods could create economic opportunities for Baleh and Kapit by encouraging more visitors to explore the area’s natural attractions, longhouse culture and developments surrounding the Baleh Hydroelectric Dam.

He said this could benefit homestay operators, boat service providers, small traders and food businesses in the two areas.

On the legislative aspect, Nicholas supported the amendments to Sections 5 and the relevant Schedules, including the removal of the Second Schedule and the consolidation of public holidays into a single Schedule.

He said the changes would simplify the legal framework, make the ordinance easier to understand and facilitate enforcement by the Labour Department.

The amendments would also enable the Head of State to amend the Schedule through Gazette notifications, allowing public holiday arrangements to be adjusted more efficiently without requiring the Ordinance to be amended in the DUN each time.

Kudi said the proposed changes are consistent with the Sarawak government’s development aspirations under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, which sought to balance economic growth and infrastructure development with the everyday needs of the people.

He stressed that good laws should not only be well-structured but also practical and beneficial to communities in urban, rural and interior areas.

Kudi expressed hope that the amendments would benefit all Sarawakians by providing greater legal certainty, safeguarding workers’ welfare, supporting family ties and recognising the cultural and economic realities of interior communities.